Fair use: Delta flight attendant Jeanette French claims in the suit filed Friday in Fulton County State Court that pilot Loren Gus Pryor attacked her during an overnight layover in the African city. The Georgia woman claims the pilot from Texas was among a group from the Delta flight who were swilling beer taken from their aircraft and that they were making a scene while they were poolside at the Pullman Teranga Hotel in August 2008.

As long as it is within the legal limits. There was probably negotiations between the parties that could ultimately not be agreed to. Highly unlikely an FA would file a BS lawsuit in a situation like this.

After reading that story I doubt her lawsuit goes very far. Delta has investigated and dismissed her claims, the EEOC dismissed her claims, and I assume the authorities in Dakar felt her accusations were baseless since there was no mention of any action taken in Dakar where the incident occurred. It also mentions that Delta and another FA are named defendants along with the pilot, so it is pretty much her against the world. Since this case seems to be basically a he said she said situation and the incident occurred several thousands of miles away it will be awfully difficult for her to prove her case. Not sure why she decided that she was going to be the moral compass for other grown adults anyway.

Quoting LAXtoATL (Reply 4):Not sure why she decided that she was going to be the moral compass for other grown adults anyway.

Not clear why she decided to tell them to cool it. Maybe she considered them friends and was trying to warn them. Maybe a hotel employee asked her to give them an unofficial warning (I've seen it happen "One of your crew members is doing X but we'd rather not make a scene could you warn them before it escalates anymore and we have to act?"). Personally I would have just left the area gone to my room so that if they got busted I wouldn't be lumped in with them.

From what I know about the Delta layovers in Africa, this behavior is common. The crews are there for multiple days often and are basically held hostage at the crew hotel due to the violence and crime in the area. The airline turns their head to the fact that alcohol is often taken from the galleys of the planes by the crew because they know that either way, the galleys are going to be raided one way or the other. The ground handlers are going to steal what the crews don't take to the hotel. As far as the partying getting out of control, well it is a he said she said event and it sounds, on the surface, like this FA was somewhat of an outcast in the group and has decided get some revenge.

Quoting iairallie (Reply 5):Not clear why she decided to tell them to cool it. Maybe she considered them friends and was trying to warn them. Maybe a hotel employee asked her to give them an unofficial warning (I've seen it happen "One of your crew members is doing X but we'd rather not make a scene could you warn them before it escalates anymore and we have to act?"). Personally I would have just left the area gone to my room so that if they got busted I wouldn't be lumped in with them.

We weren't there so its hard to judge, but based on that article it appears that the only scene was caused by the FA. There is no mention that anybody other than the FA took offense to what was going on with the other crew members and I assume that would be the first thing out of her mouth to give credibility to her story if it had happened. I doubt that the FA was asked by the hotel to intervene given the outcome of the situation. If she had been doing the hotel's bidding (considering the relationship the airline has with the hotel on international layovers like these) I have to assume that the FA would not be accusing DL of covering up for the pilot. I'm not certain, but in a place like Dakar I think there is also dedicated security provided to keep the crew safe that could have easily intervened if a situation were to occur with the crew. I definitely agree with you that if it were me I would have just walked away.

Quoting LAXtoATL (Reply 7):but based on that article it appears that the only scene was caused by the FA.

Um did we read the same article? There was no mention of a scene by the FA only that she told the rest of the crew to cool it. Normal people would react by ignoring her or cooling it. The pilot (is alleged) to have caused a scene by reacting belligerently and violently. Addtionally the article suggests that the pilot and crew were acting in a way that could be classified as causing a scene.

Quoting LAXtoATL (Reply 7):There is no mention that anybody other than the FA took offense to what was going on with the other crew members

The article leave pretty much all the details out. Just because something wasn't mentioned in the article doesnt mean it didn't happen. The fact is we just don't know beyond what the article does say.

Quoting iairallie (Reply 9):Um did we read the same article? There was no mention of a scene by the FA only that she told the rest of the crew to cool it. Normal people would react by ignoring her or cooling it. The pilot (is alleged) to have caused a scene by reacting belligerently and violently. Addtionally the article suggests that the pilot and crew were acting in a way that could be classified as causing a scene.

Based on the article, the FA telling the rest of the crew to cool it is what created the fracas. The FA is making accusations about what was going on before she intervened, but there is no mention of the hotel or local authorities saying anything the crew was doing was out of line. If they had, you can bet that the FA would have included that in her story not to mention it would have also likely resulted in Delta and EEOC reaching different determinations in their investigations of the situation.

Quoting iairallie (Reply 9):The article leave pretty much all the details out. Just because something wasn't mentioned in the article doesnt mean it didn't happen. The fact is we just don't know beyond what the article does say.

As I already mentioned, we weren't there so we don't know exactly what happened. But the absence of certain critical details are quite telling. You can bet if the local authorities had gotten involved it would be part of the article and we also would have heard about it before now. The point is, whatever the crew's actions were prior to the FA jumping in were not that offensive and even their actions toward the FA afterward were not that offensive since the local authorities didn't get involved.

Quoting catiii (Reply 12):Wouldn't be the first time a news report left out "certain critical details." All is is "telling" of is that the journalist or editors didn't include them, not of their existence.

True, could just be bad journalism. But like I mentioned before it would have made the news long before now if a Delta pilot was cited in a foreign country for inappropriate behavior by the local authorities. So, I am going to feel 99% confident that the fact that critical detail is nowhere to be found, that it didnt happen, and if it didn't happen whatever happened was nothing more than a minor incident. Remember, this woman is not only claiming that she was assaulted but that the pilot was 'out of control' in a public place (pool side with other crew, hotel staff, and i assume other guests). Neither incident apparently rose to a level that the local authorities intervened. And we do know for a fact that both Delta and the EEOC determined there was nothing to see here.

I repeat I do not know what happened over there, but using the limited information provided I still feel strongly that her case will not get very far.

I just re-read the article, to make sure I was clear on what I read and this stood out to me at the end...

She is also claiming that Delta failed to maintain her complaint in confidence because it was all over Delta by November. Yet she mentions in her complaint that the entire incident took place in front of other pilots and FAs. This just leads me to believe she is not totally in touch with reality, because anyone who has a modest amount of experience flying would know that pilots and FAs love to gossip amongst themselves. I have overheard them untold times on flights, in the gate area, and even in hotels. I am sure this incident would have been all over Delta the day after they returned from Dakar, or even before they returned if another crew was at the hotel that departed on an early flight. So, to think Delta had anything to do with spreading it around or that they could have prevented it from spreading around just tells me she is not completely in touch with reality.

One of the first questions that popped into my mind was: Did the same crew (including the complaining F/A) work a return flight? If she was so upset that she asked to be returned to the USA with another crew, or as a passenger, I would give her the benefit of the doubt until more facts are known. If she did work the return with the same crew, I would seriously question her motives.

The suit claims the airline contributed to French's distress by failing to properly investigate the alleged incident and then telling her she might have to fly with Pryor again.

I'm not sure how she's arrived at the conclusion that the company didn't investigate this properly, however it's worth noting that there is absolutely NO problem with advising her she may have to fly with that person in the future.

DL, like any company, has an expectation that their employees will treat customers and each other with dignity and respect. If the company decided that the actions of that pilot warranted anything other than discharge (discussion, counseling, suspension, etc) then they have every right to expect that these co-workers could work together in the future.

Being required to professionally work with and carry out your duties alongside someone you dislike or are uncomfortable around does not constitute a hostile work environment if that person is no longer behaving inappropriately.

"In this present crisis, government is not the solution to our problem - government IS the problem." - Ronald Reagan

Quoting wjcandee (Reply 20):Indeed, the hotel the crew stayed in has TWO BARS, one of which is near the pool:

Actually 2 bars and a seedy dance club. There is plenty of alchohol flowing in DKR. What else is there to do there for three days besides fighting off the beggers when you go to dinner or swimming in the sewer water on the beach? Oh I forgot, you could count all of the malaryia infected mosquitos you swat at...

This whole thing is b.s. and I'm wondering how DL is going to react to her taking it to the media now. This is a violation of company policy and one that could lead to her dismissal from the company, a dismissal that would be appropriate in my opinion.

Sadly 727forever, I see DL using the 'ole play book on this one. I can see them suspending her due to "conflicts of interest" but I don't think she will get terminated just yet. Not with a massive union vote going on as we speak. It may leave a bad taste in other's mouths and make them say "well, they can just up and fire you but with the union at least you will have a lawyer". Reality is if it is serious enough, the union cannot save you.

Quoting 727forever (Reply 21):This whole thing is b.s. and I'm wondering how DL is going to react to her taking it to the media now.

Who's to say she took it to the media? Once she filed a suit, it became a matter of public record. It's not unreasonable to think that someone from the AJC would see it, decide it made for an interesting story, and ran with it. besides, if she was "taking it to the media," why'd she decline comment?

Quoting Maverick623 (Reply 18):Slept for two days because of the stress? Give me a break. Insomnia is the usual reaction from an assault like she alleges.

You're right in saying insomnia is the usual reaction in stressful times. However, a smaller but significant percentage experience hypersomnia during stress / depressed states.

I would not use that statement in judging the validity of her claim. Also, using the old "what a wimp, she should get over it like I know I would" argument doesn't go very far in court. We're humans, it's a natural reaction to think that way. But no one was there when it happened and, more importantly, no one really knows what that flight attendant went through when the other crew member alledgedly grabbed her by the shoulders and used threatening language.

CYQB

25 catiii
: Cue the "if only AFA were on the property, they would protect her/this would never happen" crowd.

26 flymia
: I have heard about a absurd law suit claim AA FA made towards an AA captain. Something about racism. Long story short the FA had no case so it does h